Im pleased the XM is impressing Jim, they are more for comfort than the Xantias. Im sure there is some more comfort to be had out of the Prestige too, as the centre spheres are in need of checking. You will also notice that the spheres I put on are not the correct spec, they are higher pressured and so the ride is softer with those on. It suits me and what I think XMs are about but it might not suit everyone. They are genuine Citroen spheres though and the rears are the triple diaphragm ones.

Im sure Jim has got the autobox under control, It is in need of a change though.

Jim, dont forget my offer of helping you across to CXM with some of your fleet

Oh yes nice and easy, clean and reuse... Under the box, undo the 3 10m bolts, and lever the circular cover away at the same time watching for the fluid to drop out.... then pull the filter down out the box...

Clean it up... re fit, clean the magnet off, that sits in the cover... re fit the cover...

CitroJim wrote:Keep your eyes open Mike, V6s do come up for sale quite regularly and they tend to go for quite silly money mostly as people are scared of the engine size and potential running costs. That works nicely in your favour... I'd be happy to vet one for you...

Prestige and I took a trip to Reading today to pick up Robyn and her friend from the Reading Festival. Reading was stacked out, both with youngsters - all looking completely knackered - and traffic. Full marks to the organisers though, the pick-up point was very clearly signposted and despite being heavy, they kept the traffic moving as well as they could. Semi rather than total gridlock.....

I may well take you up on that offer, if one turns up at the right money. I'm not worried about the engine size, they seem to be more economical than an Activa and have more power, so that will suit me fine.

Oooerrrr Jim.. there SHOULD be a cat on her.. under new mot laws if one was fitted when new it needs to be there for the new mot.. so you may need to get one fitted else she's an mot failure.. i agree though the lpg would probably get her through the emissions.. but the cat should be there....

You may be intreaged to know that front and rear sensors are identical in shape!! However the rear sensors are a Bugger to remove...

CitroJim wrote:Keep your eyes open Mike, V6s do come up for sale quite regularly and they tend to go for quite silly money mostly as people are scared of the engine size and potential running costs. That works nicely in your favour... I'd be happy to vet one for you...

Prestige and I took a trip to Reading today to pick up Robyn and her friend from the Reading Festival. Reading was stacked out, both with youngsters - all looking completely knackered - and traffic. Full marks to the organisers though, the pick-up point was very clearly signposted and despite being heavy, they kept the traffic moving as well as they could. Semi rather than total gridlock.....

I may well take you up on that offer, if one turns up at the right money. I'm not worried about the engine size, they seem to be more economical than an Activa and have more power, so that will suit me fine.

if you mean a V6 Xm then there's two versions of these too.. Prvs Auto 12v ones and s2 v6 24v auto ones ah la xantia...

again i have a S1.5 v6 seize auto 12v but she too is also a restoring project....

Maybe I didn't spot the cat on my quick look - not been under the car properly yet - but checking the MOT regulations if the car can meet the requirements there is no compulsion to have a cat fitted. I understand that if the MOT tester has the engine running on gas the emissions are very much lower in any case.

If worst come to the worst I have a couple of ex-Activa cats here but I'm happy that if she's passed MOTs with the present set-up she will again with no problems at all.

Citroenmad wrote: I am sorry you have found an exhaust leak on the manifold, that is not something I had clocked.

No worries at all Chris. I've replaced one on an Activa before now and it was a right hoo-ha because access was so terrible. Looking at the XM though, there's more room at the back of the engine and the whole job looks a lot more straightforward... Bring it on!

The XM has already brought a lot of admiring looks from neighbours. It's always the interior and steering wheel in particular that steals the show

I shall be stopping off at our local factors today to get some Dex for the gearbox. Shame I can't use LT in it as I have a good quantity of that in the workshop...

Just as a note here Jim, i'm 99% sure that if a vehicle is fitted with LPG it only has to pass a smoke test. But you are right that technically no cat is required if the vehicle can pass the emissions test without it.

Do i detect a sense of hanging up on me here.. Im only saying what the recent new mot laws have been added.. no doubt your regular friendly mot man who knows you well enough would be happy if your car passes the emissions on the machine. I was only informing that new reg state a car should have original fitments... when i used to take my v6 sei xm for mot the tester had to tell the machine which fuel he was testing on lpg or petrol

citroenxm wrote:Do i detect a sense of hanging up on me here.. Im only saying what the recent new mot laws have been added.. no doubt your regular friendly mot man who knows you well enough would be happy if your car passes the emissions on the machine. I was only informing that new reg state a car should have original fitments... when i used to take my v6 sei xm for mot the tester had to tell the machine which fuel he was testing on lpg or petrol

Oh now that you mention it that rings a bell. although i wonder if they know if it should have a cat or not....

I checked the regs again and the law you speak of seems to apply only to Y reg cars and newer (i.e. those that fall into various VED bands depending on CO2 emissions). As I interpret it, a car older than that can run catless quite happily if it can pass the emissions results set for that car and the fuel it is running on.

Chris, interesting a car running on LPG only has to pass a smoke test. My limited research suggest a car running on LPG when presented is subject to the non-cat test. I need to do further research...

That is why the MOT man has to inform the machine of the fuel I guess. Also, the emissions tester has to know as gas HCs are chemically different to those of petrol...